Taichung Travel Cheat Sheet: Around the Prison Martial Arts Field – Lots of Old Houses, Super Photogenic

Text & Illustrations / Excerpted from “A Do-Nothing Trip in Taichung – A Hand-Drawn Playbook for Leisurely Strolls, Food, Drinks, and Sightseeing” by Lin Jiangwen, published by Good Reading

I really enjoy drawing the North District, and my favorite illustrations and scenes include — Port Town 13th Place Shuangshi Branch, Taichung Park, and the original store of Fengren Ice (I love the simple, authentic Taiwanese vibe of this shop).

Taichung Prison Martial Arts Field / Daohe Six Arts Cultural Center
A historic Japanese-style building that brings to mind the days when martial arts were practiced here. For now, how about starting with a cup of tea?
No. 33, Linsen Road, West District, Taichung City / (04)2375-9366

Taichung Prefectural Hall
Although the Taichung City Government has moved to a new building, this painting is my favorite. Why? I can’t quite explain — it’s just a feeling.
No. 99, Minquan Road, West District, Taichung City / (04)2227-6011

Chunshuitang Original Store
Coming here gives you a sense of seeing Chunshuitang in its original, humble form — small, not very big, but with a strong character of its own.
No. 30, Siwei Street, West District, Taichung City / (04)2229-7991

Taichung City Hall
“City Hall” is actually the Japanese term for “municipal government.” This beautiful Baroque-style building reopened on February 27, 2016, and the line of visitors that day was very long. The three-story structure features a wooden-domed ceiling on the third floor — the black dome visible from the outside — which has been well preserved and restored, truly moving.
No. 97, Minquan Road, West District, Taichung City / (04)3507-7357